Recently, Ms. Wu from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, posted online complaining about a firecracker disguised as a candy that she accidentally ate, causing her mouth to be injured by the explosion.
According to a report in the “Xiaoxiang Morning News” on February 6th, Ms. Wu stated that she was watching TV at home with the lights off when her brother came back with a bag of snacks. In the bag, there was a red rectangular “candy” packaged in a fireworks-like wrapper, resembling the taro milk candies she used to eat as a child. Ms. Wu opened one and put it in her mouth, only to have it explode as soon as she took a bite.
Ms. Wu said, “I was completely stunned at that moment, to be honest, I didn’t feel pain at that time, only a taste of gunpowder in my mouth.” Afterwards, her mouth felt numb, with red marks inside, luckily without affecting her basic daily routines such as eating and brushing her teeth.
Firecracker candy, known as “shuāi pào” in Mandarin, is a common type of firework toy during the Chinese New Year period in mainland China, mainly targeted at children and teenagers.
Ms. Wu criticized the packaging of these explosive firecrackers made to look like candy without any warning labels, calling the design extremely inhumane as it could pose a danger at any time, especially to children who might easily mistake them for edible treats.
The incident sparked heated discussions online, with many netizens pointing out the deceptive packaging of these firecrackers, saying things like “Is this really a candy?” “Smart titles identify it as candy, but it’s actually a firecracker.” “Fooled my friend into thinking it was candy.” “It really looks like the candies we used to eat as kids.”
Many internet users also criticized the misleading nature of such packaging, stating that it should be clearly labeled as a dangerous item. Some comments included, “Are firecracker packaging designs this sophisticated nowadays?” “Producing these kinds of products shows a lack of responsibility. Relevant authorities should investigate and hold the manufacturer accountable! Addressing the issue at its source!”
This incident has raised concerns about the safety and regulation of such products, emphasizing the importance of responsible manufacturing and clear labeling to prevent accidents and protect consumers, especially children.